ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team will open the GNAC slate of their schedule with a home-and-home doubleheader this Friday and Sunday. The series was originally scheduled to be entirely held in Lacey, but due to impending inclement weather, Saturday's games were moved to Friday in Lacey, and Sunday's games were moved to Ellensburg from Lacey.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, March 8
Noon & 2:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Saint Martin's
Saints Field
Lacey, Wash.
WATCH LIVE STATS
Sunday, March 10
Noon & 2:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Saint Martin's
Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field
Ellensburg, Wash.
LIVE STATS
LAST WEEKEND
The Wildcats traveled down to Western Oregon where they only managed to get four and a half innings of play in due to the weather conditions in and around the Monmouth area. The four-and-a-half innings count as an official game with the Wildcats falling 2-1.
Kate Hopkins would score
Karsyn Decker in the top of the fifth inning to make it 2-1, but unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn't rally before the umpire crew called the game.
Ashlee Laver pitched the full four and a half innings allowing three hits, two runs none of which were earned, and one walk while striking out two against 18 batters.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
The Saints are 9-7 to open their season but are on a two-game losing streak. They opened their season down at the D2 Kickoff Classic with the Wildcats in Conroe, Texas where they posted a 3-2 record posting wins over Regis, Cal Poly Humboldt, and St. Edward's while falling to Arkansas Tech and Pittsburg State. The Saints earned a weekend sweep at the Sonoma State Tournament posting two victories over host SSU while also earning victories over Chico State, Cal State Monterey Bay, and Stanislaus State. SMU then dropped a pair to nationally-ranked Western Washington and one to Western Oregon before going 1-2 at nationally-ranked Northwest Nazarene last weekend winning game one 10-9 before falling 17-2 and 3-1 in games two and three.
Three different Saints are posting batting averages over .300 led by Ashley Goodale with a .435 batting average. Britney Patrick and Olivia Matlock are each hitting .333 on the season. Goodale leads SMU in hits with 20 while Shay Lopes has the most doubles with four and Shelby Lawson accounts for both Saints triples this season. Matlock has drilled two bombs this season to lead SMU and is the leader in RBI with 11. Patrick has drawn nine walks while Destiny Conerly has the most strikeouts with 11.
Chloe Leverington has led the Saints this season once again in a bullpen role posting a 2.15 ERA and a 5-2 record in 42.1 innings pitched. Leverington already has three saves and has allowed 38 hits, 17 runs 13 of which are earned, and eight walks while striking out 48 against 163 batters. Bridget Johnson and Tia Ridings have been the main starters for SMU. Johnson has a 3.38 ERA and a 2-0 record with one complete game pitched in 29 innings. Johnson has allowed 32 hits, 18 runs 14 of which earned, and 14 walks while striking out nine against 117 batters. Ridings owns a 4.89 ERA and a 1-4 record in 24.1 innings pitched allowing 30 hits, 22 runs 17 of which earned, and 18 walks while striking out 12 against 102 batters.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will have a busy week at home welcoming the Whitworth Pirates (4-6) for a nonconference doubleheader on Thursday, March 14 with game times slated for noon and 2:00 p.m. Following their two games against Whitworth, Central will turn their attention to a four-game series against Montana State Billings (6-13-1) on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16. The first pitch against the Yellowjackets is set for noon each day with game two to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
